Arnold, Missouri Man Indicted on Federal Child Pornography Charges

ST. LOUIS, MO—The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that Craig Stelzner was indicted on multiple charges for his alleged receipt and possession of child pornography between October 2008 and January 2009.

CRAIG STELZNER, Arnold, Missouri, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one felony count of receipt of child pornography and three counts of possession of child pornography. He appeared in federal court earlier today.

If convicted, receipt of child pornography carries a penalty range of five to 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000; each count of possession carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, the Regional Computer Crime Education and Enforcement Group, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Carrie Costantin is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations, and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.